ⓒ The Canadian Globe
Rebel forces have launched a major offensive in Aleppo, Syria, seizing control of numerous neighborhoods within the country’s second-largest city. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), a UK-based monitoring group, reports that rebels now control over half of Aleppo, marking the most significant challenge to President Bashar al-Assad’s government in years.
This marks the first time rebel fighters have entered Aleppo since their expulsion in 2016. Videos circulating online, geolocated by the BBC to a western suburb, purportedly show rebel fighters within the city. The Islamist militant group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) is reportedly involved in the offensive.
The Syrian government claims to have regained control of several towns in Aleppo and Idlib provinces, following an HTS-led offensive initiated on Wednesday. The conflict, which began in 2011 with a government crackdown on pro-democracy protests, has claimed over half a million lives. Various armed groups, including jihadists, exploited the ensuing chaos to seize vast territories.
While the Syrian government, aided by Russia and other allies, eventually regained much of the lost territory, Idlib remains the last major opposition stronghold, primarily controlled by HTS, with Turkish-backed rebels and Turkish forces also present.
Reports from rebel-affiliated channels confirm the entry of rebel forces into Aleppo. Verified videos show armed men near Aleppo’s citadel and civilians fleeing near Aleppo University. The government, however, asserts that reinforcements have been deployed to repel the rebels.
Aleppo’s airport has been closed, and all flights have been cancelled. SOHR reports 23 air strikes by Syrian and Russian aircraft on Friday, resulting in 255 deaths – the highest casualty count in years.
The fighting in Idlib had largely subsided since a 2020 ceasefire brokered by Turkey and Russia. However, the recent offensive, launched by HTS and allies, was described as a deterrent to perceived government escalation.
The conflict coincides with other regional tensions. An Israeli military campaign in neighboring Lebanon has severely weakened the Iran-backed Hezbollah movement, which played a crucial role in the Syrian civil war. Israel’s air strikes inside Syria targeting Iranian and Iran-backed groups have also intensified.
